H-P to launch Linux-based PCs globally

Hewlett-Packard Co. is putting its weight behind personal computers that run the Linux operating system, the No. 1 personal computer and computer printer maker said on Wednesday.

Palo Alto, California-based H-P said it will work with Novell Inc., which sells a version of the Linux operating system, to ensure that its business customers can use the fast-growing software on its desktop and notebook computers by providing support and testing.

H-P's push behind Linux comes even as the software has been the focus of a legal battle by the SCO Group Inc., which says companies are distributing Linux software that is based on code from the Unix operating system, which it owns.

H-P said the agreement extends a previous deal in which it has backed using Novell SuSE Linux on its larger computer servers. Linux is an open source operating system, meaning that developers can freely share and modify its software code.

The operating system has made inroads in corporate data centers, gaining ground against the Unix operating system on which it is based and other operating systems. Its traction has been slower on desktop computers, where it competes against Microsoft Corp.'s Windows. (MSNBC is a Microsoft - NBC joint venture.)

Microsoft has long been a close partner of Hewlett-Packard, which sells its desktop computers with Microsoft software already loaded on them.

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"Does Microsoft like the fact that we do Linux stuff? Absolutely not. But they understand that we deliver Linux," said Martin Fink, vice president of Linux for Hewlett-Packard.

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"We've done some work with Linux in the desktop space before so for me this is a not a really big thing to do with Microsoft," Fink said.

The agreement follows word from H-P last week that it was considering launching a desktop computer based on Linux in Asia.

Fink said that he expects businesses to use Linux where employees only need a few applications, such as in a call center or support center where workers need to access only a database and e-mail.